by Peter Gardiner

Racing 80 kilometres through the wilds of the Glass House Mountains is not exactly what recreational runners would consider a warm-up. Yet Nic Moloney, who loves the open-air beauty of trail running as much as the challenge, will use the Cook’s Tour run this Sunday for a far more loftier appointment with pain.

The Western States Endurance Run is a 160 kilometre high altitude test that goes beyond stamina as the 30-year-old former triathlete from Glenview well knows – having been there, endured that in an impressive 23 hours and 30 minutes.

This was last year after taking out the Cook’s Tour staged by the Trail Running Association of Queensland. The result was a significant milestone in itself – his first major race victory – but it was always going to be preparation for the Western States. He heads back there in seven weeks.

“It is a good event to do the 80km is not too much of a flogging for your body,” Nic said.

“Running so well in that was also a great confidence boost going over there.”

There was the Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

“You start off (the run) at six thousand feet (1828 metres) and you climb two and a half thousand feet.

“I spent the first kilometres just looking around going ‘wow, there’s nothing like this back home’ – and then you hit three canyons and it wears off.”

More at thedaily.com.au

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